Appliance Buying Guide from B&D

A large home appliance can be quite a big investment, and doing our research before deciding which one to buy is really important. Here are a few tips that could help you make up your mind:

Matches your need: Appliances now come in many models and variants, and it is important to know which one fits our need the best. It is not necessary to always buy the most powerful one, as we might actually not use this at full power. Take for example the PW1370TD 100 Bar Pressure Washer which is the entry level in our pressure washers but is ideal for home cleaning needs.

Ease of use: Choose the appliance with the user in mind. A younger user may be able to use the heavy-duty vacuum cleaner with ease, but an elderly person may not find it as easy, and a smaller vacuum cleaner or the steam mop might be ideal for them.

Power consumption: It is impossible to avoid power usage, but do analyze the amount of power an appliance would use, depending on the amount of time you use it for everyday. This is so that your power bills would not surprise you later.

Servicing: After sales service is an important aspect of any purchase, but we don’t always pay attention to this point. Do check out our service centers around India, using this page.

What else do you take into consideration before buying an appliance? Do share your thoughts with us. Do drop in to our website to check out our range of appliances to choose from: http://www.blackanddeckerindia.in

Add a Dash of Colour to Your Living Space - Black & Decker, India

Just because the weather is playing games outside doesn't mean you can't cheer up your space! Bring some life onto your home by adding a riot of colours. Why stick to boring beige when you can add a dash of colour to your otherwise plain and boring décor? A splash of bright colours on the walls can make white cabinetry and framed photos pop instantly! Be it in the workplace, outdoors and at home too, here are some cool ways to splash some colour this season.

Nothing looks nicer than a vibrant look at home. De-clutter your living space and get more organized. A few changes can make a big difference. Change your upholstery and soft furnishing to speak of the season. Throw in sheer curtains in yellow, pink, green or blue. Add bright matching cushions to add to the look. In summer, replace warm quilts with light and airy dohars.

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Keep plants in your balconies in colourful earthen pots. Indoor plants make a home look clean and fresh. Planters make a delightful presence and it adds to the décor as well. Don’t forget to keep a vase of your favourite flowers on your table top, or a colourful bowl of fruit on the dining table. Not only do they look good, but they also lighten up the living room.

Create an inviting entryway that begs to be noticed the moment you walk through the door. Painting the opposite wall a warm shade like deep yellow creates depth and adding a wall mirror enhances the effect. Also, play with patterns, textures and colours. Be bold and try out something different without making it look out of place. Choose themes that go with your lifestyle and personality. With simple and inexpensive changes your home could look as good as new.

Dust-proofing your home - Black & Decker, India

Keeping our homes free from dust is not just a matter of the place looking clean, but is also about keeping our family free of allergies. Dust is something you just cannot avoid, as it seems to accumulate by magic even in a completely closed up house! Here are a few simple steps that can help us out in dust-proofing our homes:

De-cluttering: One of the biggest sources of dust is all the excess clutter that collects in our homes. I’m talking about that forgotten shelf in the base of your cupboard and those overflowing under-bed containers! All such places can hold a lot of dust if not cleaned up regularly. It also helps to get rid of old and unused items every couple of months, a lot of which can be given to charity if in good condition.

Use the right dust cloth: Unless your dust cloth or duster gathers the dust well, all you could be doing is to move it around or unsettle it into the surrounding air. Use a good microfiber or otherwise slightly stickier material, and try to use a damp cloth for water resistant surfaces like metal or glass.

A good vacuum: Once your cloth dusting is done, the next important necessity is an efficient vacuum cleaner that can help take care of any particles settled on the floor after dusting. If you have a carpet, make sure it is vacuumed regularly to ensure least dust build-up. Other items that benefit from a good vacuum cleaning are blinds, mattresses and sofa upholstery.

I hope these tips make a good start to dust-proofing your homes and keeping your family healthy. Please do share your comments and suggestions on what works well for you.

Check out Black & Decker’s range of vacuum cleaners and other appliances at our page:http://www.blackanddeckerindia.in

Which is the right vacuum cleaner for you? - Black & Decker, India

There are a wide variety of appliances available in the market nowadays, and when deciding to buy a vacuum cleaner for the first time it can get tough to choose! Here are some tips to make the decision easier for you:

Heavy duty or light cleaning: If you’re looking for a vacuum cleaner to be your primary floor-cleaning appliance, it is best to choose one of the corded, heavier and more powerful ones like the B&D VM1630. For quicker cleaning up, pick up a cordless lightweight one to keep at hand for sudden spills. If you choose one like the Orb-it, it might serve as a showpiece too.

Area to clean: There are different options available for heavy-duty home cleaning, which would also serve to clean your outdoor spaces using the blower option if necessary. For specialized cleaning such as in your car, you can go for a cordless handheld car vacuum cleaner. We have many options for car vacuums in B&D as well.

Including wet spills: Vacuum cleaners have traditionally been for dry cleaning, but newer versions can handle wet areas as well. If you’re looking at floor cleaning, you can go for a larger model, or for quick spill clean up, there are cordless versions from B&D as well.

Do you have any other specific cleaning needs that we may have missed out here? Do let us know and we’ll try to address the point in this blog post.

We are sure you will find the cleaning appliance you need at Black & Decker. Do check out complete range at: http://www.blackanddeckerindia.in

Carpeting your floors – Should you do it? - Black & Decker, India

Some of us who have lived abroad might have experienced the luxury of fully carpeted floors. This makes a lot of sense especially in colder countries as it makes it much easier to move around the house. Does carpeting make sense in India though? Let’s take a quick look:

Pros:

·         It makes it much more comfortable to walk around especially in colder climates when the floor gets really cold.

·         You can change the colour of your floor depending on your décor.

·         A well-chosen carpet can give a rich and luxurious appearance.

·         It keeps the floor protected from wear and tear.

·         It may be cheaper to replace the carpet than to change your entire flooring.

·        Carpets can be very easy to clean with a good vacuum cleaner (Check out Black & Decker’s range here)

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Cons:

·         Stains can be tough to clean, so you have to be extra careful to try to not drop anything.

·         Carpets can gather more dust, and it may not be the right choice when you have people or children with allergies.

·         They can be tough to clean if you have a lot of furniture.

·         The expertise of wall-to-wall carpeting may not yet be easily available locally.

Are there are more important pros or cons we may have missed out here? Do let us know if you think of something, and also your personal views regarding carpeting. A mid-way solution would be to go for a large carpet in your living areas and bedrooms, but avoid wall-to-wall if you are not convinced about it. Cleaning is one aspect you don’t need to worry about, when you have B&D’s range of cleaning appliances to make it easier for you! Do check out details at our website: http://www.blackanddeckerindia.in

The Wet and Dry Vacuum Cleaner - Black & Decker, India

Traditionally a vacuum cleaner invokes an image of sucking up dust. And that of course means dry spills only can be addressed. I for one have worriedly looked around to see if there are any wet patches around while using my vacuum, in the fear that I might jam the mechanism in some way! Well, that worry was addressed very well when the Wet and Dry Vacuums hit the market a few years ago. Why switch to one? Here are some thoughts:

Efficient cleaning: Having a wet and dry vacuum cleaner around makes it possible to clean spaces like the bathroom floor without having to worry. It also enables you to clean the floors better as you can first spread some water and then use the vacuum for a “poncha” or swabbing like finish.

Specific attachments: Wet and dry vacuums come with attachments for the wet cleaning. This makes it possible to use the right attachments for the job, and get done with it more quickly. In cases where there are a lot of attachments, the wet cleaning attachments might also be colour coded to make them easier to pick up.

Ease of use: For taking care of small spills like a toddler dropping a glass of juice, having a cordless and compact wet and dry vacuum cleaner around is a great idea. Black & Decker brings you the WD7215N Wet and Dry Dustbuster that is ideal for this kind of use.

Check out the WD7215N and WV1400, our Wet and Dry vacuum cleaners from Black & Decker, as well as our other models for your cleaning needs. Do drop in at our website to learn more: http://www.blackanddeckerindia.in

6 Tips for Composting at Home - Black & Decker, India

Waste segregation and the landfill situation are a growing problem in most parts of our country. Though articles like this one about enforcing waste segregation are heartening, there is still a long way to go. In the meanwhile, if we all start composting at home, we can be happy that we are doing our little bit to help. It’s an added bonus that we would get some rich homemade compost to use in our gardens. Here are some tips:

What can be composted? All the waste matter from your kitchen can be composted. All the pruned and cut waste from your garden can also go in. In short, anything that will “break down”.

What should be avoided? Oily food and non-vegetarian waste may affect the composition of your pile and are best avoided. Also avoid any diseased plants from your garden. For a complete list, see here.

How to start composting? Depending on the space available, composting can be started in a bucket, terracotta pot, or a pit in the ground. Along with the nitrogen rich wet waste, make sure to add carbon rich dry matter such as dry leaves as well.

What is the most common problem? The composition of the composting matter is important and you need to add enough dry matter such as dry leaves or sawdust to keep the pile semi-humid. Leaving it to get too wet might lead to a stronger smell, and more maggots forming in the pile.

Can I compost in a balcony or small backyard? Yes, you absolutely can! With a little practice you will be able to control the composition of the compost pile very well, which leads to very less smell, and you can keep your composting arrangement anywhere. 

How long does it take? Depending on the type of matter put in, compost can take 45 days to 3 months to form completely. When done, it will just have the pleasant smell of wet mud.

You will never be short of dry and pruned materials for your compost, when you have tools like our range from Black & Decker to keep your garden space tidy and well maintained. Do see our website for more details: http://www.blackanddeckerindia.in

5 Important Garden Care Tips for the Monsoons - Black & Decker, India

The monsoon season can be a time for a lot of new life in your garden, and it can be very exciting to see the changes every day. Though a lot of aspects like watering are taken care of if your plants are outdoors, this doesn't need that they don’t need care at all. Here are some tips:

Well-drained soil: The most common cause of losing plants during the rains is if the water stagnates in the pots. Make sure the soil is draining well without blockages, and free any blocked holes if any to improve the flow of water. In case of some succulents and cacti that don’t need daily watering, you can try to keep in a sheltered area at this time too.

Pruning: Ensure that the dry leaves and branches have been pruned well before the rains start. This ensures that the plant can concentrate its energies on the new leaves and shoots, and the growth will be much better.

Support: Plants with weak stems may be affected by heavy rain and wind, so make sure that these are staked and supported well. In case you feel the plants are too exposed, you can think of a temporary shelter during this season too (Try some DIY with B&D tools!)

Diseases: If leaves remain wet and don’t have enough air circulation, you might find an increase in some fungal diseases like leaf spot or powdery mildew. Try to ensure a good aeration so that the plants don’t remain damp, as well as apply some organic fungicides to control this problem.

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Plan according to the season: You cannot sow a sun loving plant during the monsoon season and expect it to do well. Try out plants that are known to do well in semi-shade, you will find even herbs like pudina/mint and parsley will fit this bill.

B&D provides you with cordless garden tools to make landscaping and garden care easier. Do check out more details at our website: http://www.blackanddeckerindia.in